73K Pierce County residents to see their garbage rates increase in June
Murrey’s Disposal Co., Inc., which collects residential garbage and recycling in areas of Pierce County like Gig Harbor, Puyallup, Sumner, Ruston, Fife, Bonney Lake, Browns Point, Buckley and Edgewood, will increase its collection rates, effective June 1, after approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on Thursday. The company provides waste-collection service to about 73,000 people in Pierce County, according to the UTC agenda.
In February, Murrey’s proposed raising prices about $1 to $3, as previously reported by The News Tribune, but the company withdrew that request “so that staff and the company could review the rate implications of Waste Connections’ recent purchase of Pioneer Recycling (which makes it an affiliate of Murrey’s Disposal),” said UTC communications consultant Kayla Boland.
On Thursday, the company pushed for a slightly higher rate than what it proposed in February. The UTC pushed back, approving a slightly lower rate than what was originally proposed.
Murrey’s will increase the rates of 1-20 gallon weekly garbage and recycling pickups $1.01 a month, increasing the monthly rate from $17.66 to $18.67. The 1-35 gallon weekly garbage and recycling rate will go up $1.30 a month; the 1-65 gallon rate will go up $1.90 a month; and the 1-95 gallon rate will go up $2.65 a month, according to the UTC.
The rate of 1-20 gallon monthly pick up service with recycling will go up $0.60 to total $11.05 monthly. Every-other-week recycling pickup services will go up $5.50 a month (totaling $19.68 a month). Every-other-week yard waste services will increase $0.53 a month. (totaling $7.71 a month).
The last general rate increase was approved in February 2023, according to the letter sent to residents. Since then, “the Company has experienced higher costs for employee wages, benefits, fuel, truck equipment and has purchased additional capital assets,” Murrey’s Disposal Co., Inc. said in the letter.
Those with questions for Murrey’s Disposal Co. can call 888-806-7048.
This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
